Fresh pastries, great coffee, thoughtful nibbles, and a welcoming vibe are my prerequisites for a perfect neighborhood coffee shop. The Alpine Modern Café, slated to open in mid-May, promises to be that and more.

Owner Lon McGowan is in the process of a top-to-bottom remodel of the stone building on Boulder’s Hill that was once the home of Delilah’s Pretty Good Grocery Store. Using the same aesthetic he mastered in his Alpine Modern gift shops in downtown Boulder (and showcased in his new magazine of the same name), McGowan fuses aspects of “elevated living, architecture, and design” from mountain regions around the globe. The result is, as McGowan puts it, “[an] emerging design ethos of a more natural minimalism and refined life entwined with the outdoors.” “Our vision for the cafe,” he says, “is to update this location the neighborhood loves, with a warm, modern interior that connects people to their surroundings.”

McGowan plans to bring this vision to fruition through a carefully curated menu that reflects the space’s design. Working with cafe manager Alex Baum (who previously opened the Wild Goose Meeting House in Colorado Springs) the team is creating a menu of specialty coffees, chai, and hot chocolate to be served in beautiful custom-made mugs, as well as a thoughtful selection of small plates served on sleek, handcrafted trays. Scandinavian-inspired open-face sandwiches and specialty toasts (think toppings like smoked trout, dill, and horseradish), as well as a handful of fresh pastries, will take center stage in what promises to be a captivating menu and a striking space.

904 College Ave., Boulder, 303-264-7638